Mrs. Courtney Loftis
Ecology
Class Syllabus
Fall 2012
Show Respect Willing to Learn Accept responsibility Maintain self-control Positive Environment
Ecology is a 9-week (one quarter) course that serves as an elective. Students will earn ½ credit upon successful completion of the course. This course is open to students in grades 9-12. No pre-requisites are required to enroll in this course. Ecology is the branch of biology dealing with the relations and interactions between organisms and their environment, including other organisms. This course aims to cover important ecological concepts based on ACT QualityCore Standards.
Below is a tentativelist of topics that will be covered during the 9-week course.
Physical Environment
Ecosystems & Biogeochemical Cycles
Species Interactions
Populations & Communities
Biomes
Human Ecology
Grading Scale:
Various assignments will be given throughout the course. These will include, but will not be limited to, homework, laboratory assignments, reports, tests, quizzes and writing assignments. The grade for the course will be determined by the percentage of points the student earned divided by the total number of points possible.
Grade Percent of Available Points
A 90 – 100%
B 80 - 89%
C 70 - 79%
D 60 - 69%
F 59% and below
Make-up Homework, Quizzes, & Exams:
Homework is due at the beginning of class and will be considered late if it is not turned in then. Students have severaloptions for late assignments. Not all homework assignments will be graded, but all should be completed.
(1)If the assignment is submitted late (whether 5 seconds late or by the end of the school day [2:35pm]), the student will receive an automatic 20% reduction in their grade. Therefore, the maximum grade the student can earn on the assignment is an 80%.
(2) Students may submit the assignment one (1) day late for an automatic 40% reduction in their grade.
Therefore, the maximum grade the student can earn on the assignment is a 60%.
(3) Assignments submitted more than one day late will receive a zero.
**Please note that there may be special assignments/projects that will not be accepted late!
*Note: Repeated failure to submit homework/assignments may result in disciplinary action.
It is the responsibility of the student to determine what the assignment was on the date(s) of their absence(s). The student should ask the teacher before their absence (if possible). Upon returning to school, please check the appropriate folder and tray for any work missed. The student will be given two days to complete assignments. Extenuating circumstances will be discussed on an individual basis. Any assignments that were assigned prior to the absence need to be submitted upon returning to class. If you are going on a field trip the day an assignment is due, you are still responsible for submitting the assignment before you leave or it will be considered late.
***Any work (test, quiz, project, assignment, etc.) missed due to an unexcused absence will
result in a zero and will not be allowed to be made up, per Greenwood policy.***
Tests and quizzes must be made up within 1 week of absence or a zero will be assigned. Tests and quizzes should be completed during ESS or RTI. Tests and quizzes will not be made up during class.
Extra Credit:
There will be no opportunities for extra credit per science department policy. Please don’t ask!
Required Materials: The following materials should be brought to class daily.
Binder/Folder containing Ecology notes/materials/handouts
Paper
Pencil
Calculator
Colored Pencils (optional)
Textbooks: Students will not be issued a textbook. Currently, we do not have a set of Ecology textbooks. However, we may utilize textbooks from various courses (i.e. Earth/Space text) for certain units. Students may check those books out, as needed, when needed.
Check your progress: Be responsible for your own work! Check your grades online at infinite campus on a regular basis!
Hall Passes: Each student will receive a hall pass. You must have your hallpass in your possession to leave the room. If you do not have your hall pass, please do not ask to leave my classroom. Please use your breaks wisely! I reserve the right to limit your hall pass usage.
School Expectations & Class Rules:
Show Respect
- Raise your hand and wait for permission to speak.
- Speak to everyone kindly and courteously.
Willing to Learn
- Be on time. You must be completely inside of the classroom when the bell stops ringing or you will be considered tardy per GHS policy. This will be marked in Infinite Campus.
- Be prepared. You must bring all of your class materials to class daily. Failure to bring required materials will result in disciplinary action.
- Be on task. Class does not end until I dismiss you, so please do not pack up and prepare to leave until given permission.
Accept Responsibility
- Submit completed assignments on time.
- Clean up after yourself.
- Follow all directions, both verbal and written.
Maintain Self-Control
- Keep your hands and feet to yourself at all times.
- Stay awake and attentive!
- Keep purses, bags, sweatshirts/clothing on the floor. Greenwood’s technology policy will be followed and your technological devices will be confiscated if seen or heard.
Positive Environment
- Be polite and use appropriate language.
- Follow classroom, school, and community rules at all times, even when not on school premises.
Academic Dishonesty:
Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated. A zero (0) will be given in the event of academic dishonesty. A student that knowingly facilitates another student in cheating will also be given a zero on the assignment. The Science Department’s cheating/plagiarism policy will be followed.
Greenwood High School
Science Department Policies
Plagiarism
What is plagiarism?
Plagiarism is the appropriation of another person’s ideas, processes, results, or words without giving credit.
Unless authorized by their teachers, students are expected to do their own, original work on each assignment in each class. A teacher who believes that a student at GHS has committed plagiarism will issue a penalty for academic dishonesty.
Academic Dishonesty
What is academic dishonesty?
Academic dishonesty is defined as conduct that violates the fundamental principles of truth, honesty, and integrity. The following conduct is specifically cited:
- Supplying or using work or answers that are not one’s own
- Providing or accepting assistance with completing assignments or exams
- Interfering through any means with another’s academic work
- Faking data or results
The following behaviors will not be tolerated:
- Turning in a paper, project, or exam that is not wholly your own work
- Copying answers from another student’s test
- Receiving questions/answers from students who have already taken a test or quiz you are scheduled to take
- Using an author’s words or phrases without proper credit assigned
A teacher who believes a student has committed academic dishonesty will issue a penalty grade that includes, but is not
limited to, a failing grade on the assignment or exam.
The best way to protect yourself from an allegation of academic dishonesty is simple: DON’T CHEAT! The stakes are too costly for your academic career and reputation.
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Students are not allowed to talk,make noise, or communicate in any way with other students during a test or quiz. Any form of communication will result in a zero being assigned for the grade. Students are not permitted to give or receive any form of assistance, unless stated in a student’s educational plan, during a test or quiz. The use of unauthorized aids during tests and quizzes will also result in a zero on the assignment. Students should keep their eyes on their own tests/quiz papers or a zero will be given.
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Show Respect Willing to Learn Accept Responsibility Maintain Self-Control Positive Environment
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